Refrigerating apparatus



May 9, 1933.

V B. .HULL

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 1927 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED. ST TES PATENT orrlca HARRY B. HULL, OI DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, BY mm ASSIGNMMTS 'IO IBIGIDABE CORPORATION, A

CORPORATION 01' DELAWARE BEFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS Application fled December 88, 1987, Serial No. 841,888. Renewed September 18, 1982.

This invention relates to a refrigerator having an insulated wall.

In refrigerators of this character, air entering the insulated wall has condensed moisture on the lining of the refrigerator. V This moisture wets the insulation and causes a very insanitary and disagreeable condition. The condensation of moisture is caused by air having a high relative humid- 1 ity being cooled below the dew point by the relatively cold lining of the refrigerator.

With the varying temperatures outside, and possibly inside the refrigerator, the air within the insulating wall is caused to expand and contract periodically This, in turn, periodically renews the high relative humidity of the air within the insulating wall, since the periodic expansion and contraction causes a fresh supply of air to enter the insulating wall, which fresh supply of air generally has a relatively high humidity.

I have overcome these objections by causing the periodic expansion and contraction of the air within the insulating wall to withdraw air into the wall from a source of relatively dry air, and to discharge the air from within the insulating wall to any convenient place which does not pollute the interior of the refrigerator, such as the outside 39 atmosphere. The periodic expansion and contraction of air, with the ordinarily at tendant influx and discharge of air, I have preferred to. call a; breathing action. This breathing action, according to my invention, 33 introduces relatively dry air into the insulating wall and prevents the introduction of air from the wall into the interior compartment of the refrigerator.

An object of this invention is to prevent the condensation of atmospheric moisture within an insulating wall of the refrigerator. Another object of this invention isto per-- mit free flow of air'into and'out of the insulating wall and at the saine time prevent/ condensation of atmospheric moisture 'within theinsulating wall. I 7

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a cooling preferred form of the present embodiment is clearly shown.

In the drawing: The figure is a vertical cross sectional view of a refrigerator embodying my invention.

A refrigerator, embodying my invention, generally designated as 20, has refrigerating means, such as an iceless cooling unit, generally designated as 21 which contains re 60 frigerant and'which does not discharge said refrigerant into the refrigerated space. The refrigerator may be provided with an in-' sulatin wall 22 having a shell comprisin an outside cover 23, an inside lining 24 an a stationary insulatin material, such as cork'or the like. The s ell of the insulatin wall may be connected to the frame -wor 25 and may have means for hermetically sealing the wall, such as a gasket at 26. The door also may comprise an insulating wall 27 provided with an outside cover 28 and an inside lining 29 and this door ma also be a hermetically sealed insulated wal v In orden to compensate for the expansion of air within the insulating wallsof the refrigerator, 1- provide breathing means which may comprise a passage or tube strucvture 30 leading froma source of dehydrated 1 air independent of the refrigerant in the unit 21, as, for instance, the inside of I the re rigerator and another passage or tube structure 31 leading from the inside ofthe wall to the outside of the refrigerator. There may be a plurality of these passages and the B5 door also may be provided with one or more of these passages. The passagesomay be provided with check valves 32 and 33 which cause the insulating wall tov withdraw air' only from the source air during the periods when the air within the wall is contr'acting.- The check valves also permit the air from within the wallto escape outside of the refrigerator during such periods when the air within the wall is 95 expanding. This is the operation during normal conditions aswhen the door 28 is closed. It is obvious that, since the air within the refrigerator ordinarily is colder than the air of dehydrated a within the insulating wall, air withdrawn from the interior of the refrigerator will not refrigerator because of the odor of the insulation. By the means described herein, it is possible to prevent the fouling of the air within the refrigerator by the air of the insulating wall, since the passages always induce the air outwardly from the inner compartment of the refrigerator to the wall instead of inwardly.

While, in the preferred embodiment, the air from within the insulated walls is discharged outside of the refrigerator, sometimes it may be possible to discharge the air back into the food compartment without causing too objectionable an odor within the refrigerator. In such a case one or more passages may be provided. into the insulated wall from the food compartment where the air is dehydrated. Itis important to'prevent the outside, warm and humid air from entering the insulated wall and to thus pre- -'vent rotting of the insulation.

While the form of embodiment of the in-.

vention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

7 What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with breathing means adapted to inhale from within the refrigerator andto exhale outside the refrigerator by reason of periodic changes in the temperature of said wall and having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale independentlyof the flow of said refrigerant.

2. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with a relativel impervious shell, and breathing means a apted to inhale into the wall from within the refrigerator, and to exhale outside the refrigerator by reason of periodic changes in the temperature of said Wall and having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale independently of'the flow ofsaid refrigerant.

3. A, refrigerator having an insulatin wall provided with breathing means adapte to inhale from within the refrigerator and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior of the wall with the interior of the refrigerator, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said pasages only from the interior of the ref;

erator to the interior of the wall and from the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said refrigerator having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale independently of said refrigerant 4. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with breathing means adapted to inhale from within the refrigerator and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior of the wall with the interior of the refrigerator, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air -to flow in said passages only from the interior of the refrigerator to the interior of the wall and from the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means including a check valve in one of said passages, said refrigerator having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale independently of said refrigerant. v

5. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with breathing means adapted to inhale from within the refrigerator,

and to exhale outside the refrigerator,comprising a passage connecting the interior of the wall with the interior of the refrigerator another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said passages only from the interior of the refrigerator to the interior of the Wall and from the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means in cluding a check valve in each of said passages, said refrigerator having a cooling element containin refrigerant and permitting said wall to inl iale and to exhale independently of said refrigerant.

6. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with a relatively impervious shell, and breathing means adapted to inhale into the wall from within the refrigerator, and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior ofthe wall with the interior of the refri erator, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said passages only from the interior of the refrigerator to the interior of the wall and from the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said refrigerator having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to-inhale and to exhale independently of said refrigerant.

7 A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with a relatively impervious shell, and breathing means adapted to in hale into the wall fromwithin the refrigorator, and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior of the wall with the interior of the flow in said passages only from the interior of the refrigerator to the interior of the wall and from'the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means including a check valve in one of said passages, said refrigerator having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale independently of said refrigerant.

8. A refrigerator having an insulating wall provided with a relativel impervious shell, and breathing means a'apted to inhale into the wall from within the refrigorator, and to exhale outside the refrigerator, com rising a passage connecting the interior 0 the wallwith the interior of the refrigerator, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said passages only from the interior of the refrigerator to the interior of the wall and from the interior of the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means including a check valve in each of said passages,v said refrigerator having a cooling element containing refrigerant and permitting said wall to inhale and to exhale e independently of said refrigerant.

9. A refrigerator having an iceless cooling unit containing refrigerant and an insulating wall provided with breathing means adapted to in ale into the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cool:

iri'g unit and to exhale outside the refrigera or. 10. refrigerator having an iceless cooling unit containing refrigerant and an insulatlng wall provided with a relatively impervious shell and breathing means adapted to 1nhale mto the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said coolntig unit and to exhale outside the refrigera or. I

11. A refrigerator having an iceless cooling unit containing refri erant and aninsu a e ting wall provi d wit 1 breathing means adapted to inhale into the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cooling unit and to exhale outside the refri erator, comprising a assage connect- I ing t e interior of the wal with air dehyexterior of the refrigerator and means to cause an to How in said passages only-from 1 frigeraton;

drated' by said cooling unit, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the the source of dehydrated air into the wall and from the wall to the exterior of the r 12. A refrigerator having an iceless cooling unit containin refrigerant and an insulating wall provided with breathing means adapted to inhale into the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cooling unit and to exhale outside the refri erator, comprising a passage con-j necting t e interior of the wall with air de hydrated by said cooling unit, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the refri erator and means to cause air to flow in'sai assages only from the source of dehydrated air into the wall and from the wall to the exterior of the refri erator, said last named means including a c eck valve in one of said passa cs.

13. A refrigerator having an ice ess cooling unit containing refri erant and an insulating wall provided wit breathing means adapted to inhale into the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cooling unit and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a assage connecting the interior of the wal with air dehydrated by said cooling unit, another passage connecting the interior of {the wall with t e exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said assages only from the source of dehydrate air mto the wall and from the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means including a check valve in each of said passages.

14. A refrigerator having an iceless cool ing unit containing sulating wall provid d with a relatively means impervious shell and breathing adapted to inhale intovthe wall air independ-. ent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by frigerant and an insaid cooling unit and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior of the wall with air dehydrated by said cooling unit, another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the'refrigerator and means to cause air to fiow in said passages only from the source of dehydrated air into the wall and from the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator.

15. y A refrigerator having an iceless cool.-

in unit containing refrigerant and an insu ating wall provided with a. relatively im- 3 pervious shell and breathing means adapted toinhale into the wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cooling unit and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising apassage connectingthe interior of the wall with air'dehydrated by saidcooling unit,- another passage connecting the interior of the wall with the exterior of the'refrigerator and means to cause-air o flow in said passages only from: the source of dehydrated .air into the wal'l and from I the wa ll to the exterior of the refriger'ator,

said last named means in'ludin'g a check valve in one of said f 16. A refrigerator having an iceless cooling unit containing refrigerant and an insulating wall provided with a relatively 1mpervi ous shell and breathing means adapted to inhale into the Wall air independent of said refrigerant and dehydrated by said cooling unit and to exhale outside the refrigerator, comprising a passage connecting the interior of the Wall with air dehydrated by said cooling unit, another passage connecting the interior of the Wall with the exterior of the refrigerator and means to cause air to flow in said passages only from the source of dehydrated air into the wall and from the wall to the exterior of the refrigerator, said last named means including a check valve in each of said passages.

17. A refrigerator having a food compartment, an iceless cooling unit in said compartment containing a refrigerant, a door, an insulating wall carrying said door and provided with stationary insulating material and a relatively impervious shellsurrounding'a substantial part of said food compartment not covered by said door, and breathing means adapted to inhale into and to exhale from the wall air, independentof said refrigerant, said breathing means being adapted to inhalesaid air, when said door is closed, only from within said compartment.

18. A refrigerator having an iceless cool- I ing unit containing refrigerant, an insulating wall containing stationary insulating material provided with relatively impervious inner and outer shells, and breathing means having a tube structure having connections with the interior of said wall and with the exterior of said refrigerator for inhaling into the wall only air, independent of said refrigerant, dehydrated by said cooling unit and for exhaling outside the refrigerator with the aid of pressure fluctuations between the air inside of said wall and the air outside of said wall.

19. A' refrigerator having an iceless cool ing unit containing refrigerant, an insulatmeans permitting inhalation into and exhalation from said wall of air, independent of the refrigerant, said means being arranged to inhale said air, when said closure device is closed, only from within said compartment.

22. A refrigerator having a food compartment, an iceless cooling unit in said compartment containing a refrigerant, a substantially impervious shell having insulation disposed therein and forming an insulated Wall surrounding the reater part of said compartment, a closure evice for closing a point of entry to said compartment,-

and means permitting inhalation into and exhalation from said wall of air, independent of the refrigerant, said means being arranged to in ale said air, when said closure device is closed, only from within said compartment, and said means being arranged to exhale said air to the atmosphere exterior of said shell.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

' HARRY B. HULL.

ing wall containing stationary insulating material provided with-relatively impervious inner and outer shells, and breathing means for said insulating wall including a tube structure extending from said innershell inwardl near said cooling unit and connected wit the interior of said wall, and including a tube structure having anopening to the outside of said refrigerator.

20. A refrigeratorhaving an iceless cooling unit containing refrigerant, a hollow,

substantially impervious W-walls containin stationary insulation, breathing means ha ing a. connection with the interior of said wall for inhaling air independent of said refrigerangand having a discharge opening to the exteriorof said refrigerator, and provisions whereby the air inhaled by said 

